POTTY MOUTH...

If you are looking for the greatest video of the year... you just found it! Here is Joey and the gang in Las Vegas reciting a list of words that will be filtered out on a particular message board. Warning - it is VERY explicit... so turn it up!

SO DUMB, IT HURTS...

Enjoy this tribute to Great Moments in Presidential Speeches. I think the relatives part is my favorite. Thanks for the link, Lisa.

THE PACT IS BACK...

Last Friday night was a special night for the select bunch of drunks at Old Curtis Street in Denver. It marked the reunion of The Blackout Pact, after breaking up more than 2 years ago. The line-up that night was Scooter James, Anchor Down, Esprit de Corps and The Blackout Pact.

Fronted by the gravely vocals of Mike Herrera (Sleeper Horse, Tin Horn Prayer), the entire place exploded on the first song. Mike sang most of the songs either in or on the crowd. The tiny stage was packed with friends and people singing along with fists in the air. All in all, it was a great night and reminded me of going to house parties and basement punk shows. Stay tuned for upcoming news about The Pact.


Mike, doing what he does best... singing his heart out.







Casey Yunko (Only Thunder) says "You're #1 guys!"













Josh Friedman with the deranged super-fan look of a 12 year old girl.



Josh and Matty Clark of Sleeper Horse.






Friends for life... that's what it's all about.



Scooter James... with some bad-ass new jams.



Mike and I(ke).

ANDY THOMAS LIVE!...

I posted a couple new videos on my YouTube page of my buddy Andy Thomas from his show last weekend at 3 Kings:
Rattling Tags, Martha Midwest

If you are in Denver tomorrow night (January 30), you should check out his show with Big Timber and Sleeper Horse at the Hi-Dive. I'll be there, with a PBR in hand. Say hi.

I LIKE THIS GUY...

"With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion."
- Steven Weinberg - Nobel Laureate in Physics

I just found this quote on Surfstation. I've never heard of Steven Weinberg before, but I guess he's a pretty big deal... fancy Nobel Laureate. In case you couldn't tell, I'm an Atheist.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAVID...

If you're cruising The Mission in San Francisco today and see this man, give him a high five and buy him a shot of whiskey. Why, you ask? Because today is David Benzler's birthday! He is one of my best friends and one of the best human beings you will ever meet. I took this picture last year on his birthday, before we headed out to The Phone Booth for drinks and back to Jessica's place for drunken peanut butter sandwiches. We were drunk, not the sandwiches.

Happy birthday, dude... I miss ya.

CALL OF THE WILD...

Josh Keyes has released his latest print "The Call I" through the David B. Smith Gallery. If you want to own a print from a great dude and an important artist, grab this one up.

LISTEN UP...

One of my favorite podcasts, Issue Oriented, has just released episode 40. This isn't your typical shitty punk podcast. Ronen has an incredible grasp on the music scene, and hosts some damn good interviews. Also, after meeting & chatting with Benny in Salt Lake at the show with Only Thunder, I know he's a good dude. So, check it out.

"Host Ronen Kauffman talks to BENNY HOROWITZ of THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM about the perils of success, steady decision making, the band's meteoric rise and much more. Then Ronen talks to BLACKENED about growing up, playing angry music for the fun of it, and more. Then Ronen talks to JOE STEINHARDT of Don Giovanni Records about strategy, sounds, and how to stay afloat as a small player in a tumultuous music industry."

YUP, THAT'S WHAT IT SAYS...

Chelsea and I were on a day trip down to the Garden of the Gods, and stumbled upon Manitou Springs. This little town has the coolest old arcade with wacky games... such as "LOOK IN BUNGHOLE". My first thought was "A penny. That's a steal." I know some places in SF where it costs a lot more than that. Needless to say, I got a roll of pennies. The rest is history... a dark, haunting history.

I will post the rest of the images from the trip this week. But now, its off to bed because we are going boarding tomorrow!! Don't hate.

IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY...

If you're not familiar with Sunny Day Real Estate... get familiar! Here is an introduction into their awesomicalness. Yeah, I made that word up... but its totally appropriate here.

LIBERACE WASN'T GAY?

My friend Brian and I are having a debate on Facebook about Liberace being gay. I honestly just don't see it. A lot of guys frolick in a gold tub with bubbles or swim in a giant piano-shaped pool.

ICON IN MOTION...

N.A.S.A. "Money" feat. David Byrne, Chuck D, Ras Congo, Seu Jorge, & Z-Trip from Paul Griswold on Vimeo.
This video seems like more of a Shepard Fairey retrospective than a music video, but it's still pretty fresh. The song is kinda weak, but Chuck D's part is good. Surprise, surprise. You could always mute it and listen to this jam while watching the Obey graphics.

POSTER GODS...

Even wonder how the dynamic duo behind Aesthetic Apparatus does what they do? Check out these videos: Beginnings, Methods, How we do

PRETTY FRESH...

My friends Sean, Aaron and Joey have just launched the site for their new design studio Legwork. Congrats dudes... the work and the site is top notch! I see good things in the future for these cats.

NICE PACKAGE...

If you are at all interested in the world of packaging design, you've gotta check out this great blog called Lovely Package. Every day, I find more and more inspirational work that pops up on the site. It's also a great way to find out about other studios.

Here are a few of my current finds:


Gyttorp shotgun shells


Zuny leather toys


Askul Batteries


You Smell soaps

AL-COUSTIC-LINE TRIO...

I know, I know... the title is a stretch. Gimme a break.
Anyhoo... Alkaline Trio just recorded some acoustic tracks and live videos for MySpace. They even cover The Cure's Cut Here. Also, be sure to watch "Emma," its a damn good song.

And while you're there, why not download the exclusive EP?

WHO LOVES FISTING?...

Apparently, our new commander in chief and his wife do. Enjoy this.



Also, Bush is caught trying to teach a young man about fist love. The classic Dodgeball movie quote "... looks like a retard trying to hump a doorknob" comes to mind.

I HEART GOOGLE MAPS...

Check these dudes out. Pittsburgh has some real tools.
Sorry Mike and Anne.

THE BLACKOUT PACT REUNION...

More pics from the Friday night Blackout Pact reunion show with Scooter to come. Stay tuned.

AHHH, THE DMV...

During a quick trip to the DMV for my new license, I caught these delights. Enjoy.


Cool... I haven't been to a "YAR SALE" in a long time!



Across the street from the DMV was this watering hole, the Athmar Lounge. The sign caught my eye because it is so awesome. This looks like the kinda place you go to drink yourself to death, slowly.



Yup, they spare no expense on decorations. It was about 9:30am when I took this... it looks like the dude on the right is ready to party! Or maybe he's just going in for the "Free Internet Access". Either way, kudos to you sir.

ARTY PARTY...

On the first Friday of each month down on Santa Fe, there are openings at all of the galleries. Virgil decided that it would be a good idea for Suburban Home to have their own party and show those snooty art nerds how it's done. Art, live music, a vat of nacho cheese and Boone's Farm... that's how Sub Home rolls!


Seabron Ward... enjoying wine the way it's meant to be, in a handy box.



The art of Vinnie Fasano. I love this guy and his artwork.



The art of Ghost Buffalo singer, Marie Litton.



Rock n' roll couple Matt and Marie from Ghost Buffalo, playing live. They sounded great, as usual. To see a video of Matt and Marie's live performance, check out my YouTube page.

THE REVIVAL TOUR...

2008 saw one of the greatest tours to ever hit the road... The Revival Tour. The tour featured Chuck Ragan (Hot Water Music), Tim Barry (Avail) and Ben Nichols (Lucero) - along with multiple guests in each town. Back in late October, the tour finally made it's way to Colorado and hit Ft. Collins first. There was no way we were gonna wait until the next night when they were playing in Denver... that would be too easy. So, we packed up the Sleeper Horse van (complete with a 1980s Dolly Parton pink interior) and headed north. The crew was Josh, Aaron, Virgil, Ralph, Caroline, Jenn, PBR and myself. We made our way to The Aggie theater and met up with the guys. Also on the bill that night were our friends Austin Lucas and Jon Snodgrass. I had been waiting for this show for months and knew it was gonna be a good night... and it was. Here are a few photos from the show. If you actually want to see some good photos, Ralph posted some here.

I also posted some videos from the evening on my YouTube page:
• Tim Barry (The Revival Tour) - Dog Bumped
• Ben Nichols and Jon Snodgrass (The Revival Tour) - Old Sad Song
• Austin Lucas with Chuck Ragan (The Revival Tour) - Sun or Snow
and Austin was kind enough to dedicate a song to me... Austin Lucas with Chuck Ragan (The Revival Tour) - Man Alive This might be my favorite song of 2008. So good.



Our sweet chariot.



That's Ralph... just be glad he's hiding his face. It ain't pretty.



I believe the term is "road sodas". Dee-lish.



Jenn and Caroline braved the trip with a bunch of stinky dudes. They are rock stars in my book.



Ralph showing Virgil that he really is prettier in pink. You go girl!



We park the van, get out and this is the first thing we see. I'd love to see the bitter, chain smoking hag that teaches this class.



We had some great side stage spots for the show, but my pictures didn't turn out too good.



Check out Ralph's photos... he's an "artist".



Caroline and Josh.



Me and the knuckleheads... Caroline, Aaron and Josh.



To say Virgil had a "good time" at the show would be a major understatement. Here, Jenn and Caroline are "guiding" him down the street... after peeing in a shop doorway. Maybe hitting up the Surfside Seven for more drinks after the show wasn't a good idea? But, we did get to hear Josh sing all The Gaslight Anthem songs on the jukebox. Awesome.



After a 3am stop at a sidewalk gyro stand, it was back in the van and off to the hotel. Virgil passed out as soon as he sat down... poor Caroline.







This one is my favorite.



After some LATE night adventures at the local Denny's, it was breakfast burritos and back on the road to Denver. Ralph decided to catch up on some sleep. All in all... it was an epic evening. Thanks guys!